ONEIDA -- Video footage taken from the dash cam of an Oneida Police patrol car in April 2009 has surfaced on YouTube.

A series of five videos, between nine and 15 minutes in length, were posted on YouTube by someone using the screen name "SheneSimmons" Tuesday afternoon and evening. The videos appear to be segments of video captured by a dash cam during former Oneida Police Officer Shawn Gwilt's April 13, 2009 shift.

Police Chief David Meeker would not confirm the officer's identity, but Gwilt can be seen in the video when he gets out of the cruiser.

Dash cams in patrol cars are not automatically set to record everything, Meeker said. They're either turned on manually or come on automatically during a traffic stop. In this instance, he said the video camera was activated during a traffic stop and never turned off.

The subsequent footage records conversations between Gwilt and other officers on duty, as well as phone calls made within the patrol car and statements repeatedly made by Gwilt that the transmission in the car was faulty. Several times during the videos the engine can be heard revving. Another officer suggests Gwilt take the car to the city's central garage to be repaired but he declines and on several occasions, tells multiple people that the car was having mechanical issues but he was going to continue to drive it.

Later in his shift, the final video shows that the transmission is damaged to the point that the car will no longer move. The officer radios central dispatch asking for a tow truck to be sent to Lenox Avenue to bring in the car.

Meeker says the officer was disciplined for the conduct that was depicted in the video. He declined to list the specific actions that led to the "substantial disciplinary actions" taken against the officer.

The vehicle, which was known by the department to be in need of repair, was removed from service after it was determined that the cost of repairing the transmission would be too costly. Typically, if a patrol car needs to be repaired, it's taken to the city's central garage to be fixed if it's something minor. If the mechanical problem affects the performance of the vehicle it's taken out of service and repaired, Meeker said.

The coarse language and vulgar subjects of many of the conversations heard in the video are not typical or acceptable in the Oneida Police Department, Meeker said. Officers are expected to act and speak professionally in public, but he recognized that the tone and context of conversations between officers in the absence of the public may be different. The officers were unaware the video camera was recording and wouldn't have anticipated it would be made public, he said.

"Although the incident in the video occurred almost three years ago, the remarks made and behavior exhibited were, and continue to be, unacceptable," Meeker said in a statement issued Wednesday. "Therefore, on behalf of the police department, I apologize to anyone who was mentioned in a negative manner and for any repercussions emanating therefrom."

The public should not judge the department as a whole as a result of the video recording, Meeker said.

"I would like to take this opportunity to stress that the misconduct of any one member is not a reflection of the entire police department," Meeker said. "Many Oneida police officers routinely make an extra effort, saving lives and working in a diligent and professional manner, while carrying out their duties. Such honorable officers do not deserve to have their efforts diminished."

While Meeker recognized that the videos are considered public documents under the Freedom of Information Act, he said he would have liked the videos to be edited to protect the "identity and dignity of individuals inappropriately discussed."

The Oneida Daily Dispatch requested and received a copy of the DVD containing the video footage. Community Service Officer Scott Grinnell and Sgt. David Meeker Jr. also requested and received copies.

Since the videos have been posted on YouTube, it's been determined that Grinnell allowed another person access to the videos, who then edited them and posted them, Meeker said. Even though the videos are public record, Meeker said Grinnell could be disciplined based on department rules. It's being reviewed by the city attorney, public safety commissioner and the mayor.

Mayor Don Hudson says he has not watched the videos and does not plan to. Watching them will "serve no purpose," he said, stressing that the incident happened three years ago and the "situation has been dealt with" with the proper discipline "handed out."

"I want to move on," he said.

He was confident that potential discipline of Grinnell would be handled appropriately. He said "there are more important things" for the city administration to focus on other than the videos.

Gwilt left the department last June after complaining Meeker created a hostile work environment. A common-council-ordered investigation did not support Gwilt's allegation, but the council has kept the 18-page report secret except for two paragraphs the mayor read on the radio.

Gwilt's initial allegations were not related to this incident, although it's not known to what degree investigators looked into it.

The Dispatch filed a FOIL request for the report that was denied and an appeal of the denial, which was also denied.